Kyle is God. Not only is an artist with incredible range, but he has a great ear for dialogue, a fine-tuned sense of the absurd, and one heck of a radar for human nature. Get these books.
The Cowboy Wally Show
Kyle Baker
When this book originally appeared, it quickly disappeared from the shelves, and attained an almost legendary status amongst the lucky few to catch it the first time. This reissue shows that the reputation was well-deserved.
Why I Hate Saturn
Kyle Baker
Kyle's second graphic novel. The adventures of Anne, an alcoholic underacheiving writer, her sister Laura, Queen of the Astro Leather Girls of Saturn, and the men in their lives.
Hilariously funny, and some of the sharpest dialogue you can imagine.
DC's Paradox Press imprint has made a great splash with this series of non-fiction anthologies. Each book is typically 200 pages, usually featuring dozens of different artists and writers from both sides of the Atlantic. Great subject matter, some astonishing facts, and terrific artwork.
The Big Book of Conspiracies
Order
in Paperback.
The Big Book of Death
Order
in Paperback.
The Big Book of Freaks
Order
in Paperback.
The Big Book of Urban Legends
Order
in Paperback.
The Big Book of Weirdos
Order
in Paperback.
Dave Sim's 6000-page work in progress stands alone among graphic novels, and not just for its sheer length. Cerebus' world is a complex society with several major religions, an advanced political system, and a maddening mix of the mystical and the mundane. In the midst of all this is the title character, at best flawed, no heroic archetype at all, yet somehow a key catalyst on many levels. A list of Sim's innovations in this series would fill one of these phonebook-sized volumes in its own right. The narrative usually eschews the omniscient view, and presents instead the subjective truths of its characters. Often, these views turn out to be just plain wrong, or somewhat ingenuous.
These volumes definitely earn the title "graphic novel" in scope and in length. And I haven't even mentioned the Dore-like detail of nearly every page (particularly in the volumes after Gerhard's arrival.)
Provocative, graphically and narratively ambitious, and not incidently, quite funny in spots. I could write another 5,999 pages of praise...
Cerebus
Dave Sim
More a reprint of the mostly-unconnected first 25 issues of the series, but quite entertaining in its original intent as a Conan parody. You might want to start with the next one, though...
Cerebus: High Society
Dave Sim
Sim's first exploration of the longer form story, and a terrifically funny one to boot. Cerebus, exhiled in the city-state of Iest, finds himself the ranking diplomat for the city-state of Palnu, which sends him on a political quest for the Prime Ministry. Many consider this the place to start reading the series -- the first volume isn't essential for understanding (though it doesn't hurt), and this volume definitely represents the series' overall quality better.
Cerebus: Church and State (Vol. 1)
Dave Sim
Part 1 of the sprawling (1200 page) Church and State storyline. Through the machinations of the mysterious Adam Weisshupt, Cerebus once again assumes the mantle of prime minister. Then, destiny beckons, and he becomes the Pope. Hilarity ensues -- yeah, yeah yeah.
My personal favorite of the series -- Sim's sense of timing drives this novel forward, and you get a really good feel for the political and philosophical complexities of Estarcion life.
Cerebus: Church and State (Vol. 2)
Dave Sim and Gerhard
Concludes the epic Church and State storyline, with a stunning combination of humor, philosophy, gender politics, and devious storytelling.
This volume also introduces Gerhard on backgrounds, which propels the series into a new realm of technical excellence and artistic pleasure.
Cerebus: Jaka's Story
Dave Sim and Gerhard
An unparalleled combination of visual storytelling, pacing, and plotting, not to mention one of the truest-sounding characterizations of any woman in comics.
Cerebus: Melmoth
Dave Sim and Gerhard
Kind of a way-station in the storyline. Cerebus takes somewhat a back seat here, still traumatized from the events of Jaka's Story. This storyline is an adaptation of the last days of Oscar Wilde.
Cerebus: Flight
Dave Sim and Gerhard
The conclusion of Melmoth has launched the book into a dynamic start for the epic "Mothers and Daughters" storyline. Lots of loose ends from a hundred issues back get tied up, and we get a lot more action this time around.
Cerebus: Women
Dave Sim and Gerhard
Part 2 of "Mothers and Daughters." Not yet reviewed.
Cerebus: Reads
Dave Sim and Gerhard
Part 3 of "Mothers and Daughters," and unquestionably the most controversial. Through the eyes of "Viktor Davis," Sim expounds upon gender politics with surprising vitriol. One of these collected issues, #186, lead many people to drop the book in anger. As is usually the case with Cerebus, however, the jury is still out, as the characters in the book, Sim included, hardly ever get the whole story straight. When Sim continues to introduce characters and situations which clearly contradict "Davis'" point, you have to wonder what he's got up his sleeve.
Cerebus: Minds
Dave Sim and Gerhard
The conclusion of "Mothers and Daughters."
Not yet reviewed.
Cerebus: Guys
Dave Sim and Gerhard
The latest reprint volume. Not yet reviewed.
Dave Sim returns to the humorous side of his story with this volume, set in a tavern on the Wall of Tsi.
These titles are groundbreakers in the comics medium, and should be part of everyone's library.
Understanding Comics
Scott McCloud
A unique contribution to the comics medium, this book explains the visual lexicon and uniqueness of graphic storytelling. Written in comics format itself, it's a perfect illustration of the premise that the medium can encompass a wide range of topics and storytelling techniques.
Maus
Art Spiegelman
Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel about the author's family's experiences in the Holocaust. The animal motif (Jews are portrayed as mice, the Germans as cats, Poles as pigs, etc.) seems a bit insulting at first, but as the story unfolds, helps to keep the reader from being overcome with horror and grief.
And the grief doesn't end in Germany; much of the book's narrative revolves around the author's relationship with his father, as he seeks to process and understand his father's memories.
A moving story.
Watchmen
Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons
The definitive deconstruction of superhero lore. Set in an alternate world where costumed adventurers operated, an atomic superman was created, and Nixon never went away, this story examines the morality of ultimate power, and the motives of those who set out to protect us from ourselves.
Originally serialized in 12 installments, each chapter of the book is noteworthy in its storytelling tricks, both in the narrative and in the artwork.
Joyride
Carol Lay
Eisner-nominated graphic novel and collection of Lay's Story Minutes.
Not yet reviewed.
Kafka
David Zane Mairowitz, Robert Crumb
Not yet reviewed.
Through the Habitrails
Jeff Nicholson
Originally serialized in Taboo, and also previewed in Dave Sim's Cerebus, this graphic novel actually fits the definition Kafkaesque. Nicholson's characters work in a hellish office cris-crossed with tubes carrying gerbils. In a weird symbiosis, the gerbils are fed "juice" tapped from the workers, and in return, they absorb the dispair of the workers, or are killed for stress releif.
Some seriously disturbing imagery. Not to be read alone in dim hotel rooms.
Dr. Radium's Big Book of Science
Scott Saavedra
Reprints the complete run of "It's Science with Dr. Radium," Scott Saavedra's first series featuring the last scientist of the future. Dr. Radium has been optioned by Fox Kids for a possible series, by the way.
Saavedra's artwork is a joyful fusion of '50s populuxe, Dr. Seuss, and Rube Goldberg. Dr. Radium, the last scientist in an idyllic (though somewhat odd) future, is profoundly clueless as he battles the Elvi, an alien race who worship you-know-who. Time travel hijinks galore ensue.
Great early work by Saavedra. Seek out his newer work, too, such as his later collection of Dr. Radium, GAAK, CHOKE, BLURG!, his later series Dr. Radium: Man of Science, the late lamented Java Town. Most of this stuff (including this book) can still be ordered from Slave Labor Graphics.
Cypher
Brad Teare
Fans of Gary Panter, Peter Kuper, and RAW magazine will enjoy this graphic novel. Brad Teare's scratchboard artwork. Existential angst, an everpresent feeling of dread, and a transformation of the mundane into the surreal.
For a great preview of the book, check out the Cypher Web site, and especially the Cypher Gallery, an imaginative 3D -modeled environment.
Not yet reviewed , but if you check out the site above, you'll know as much as I do, and probably be as intrigued.
112 Pages
Rest assured, I'm aware of the astonishing number of artists who have also contributed to these books. I'll attempt to credit them as I go along. The main point of this section, however, is to highlight the common ground all of these books have, author Neil Gaiman. His DC comics series The Sandman set a new standard for literate comics work, and the collections featured here maintain that standard. Through our arrangement with Amazon, you can get them all, usually within a few days, and at substantial discounts in most cases.
The Books of Magic
Neil Gaiman, et. al.
Introduces Tim Hunter to the DC universe. Tim just might turn out to be the most powerful magician on earth, for good or evil. That is, if he decides to take the path of magic. In this story, four of the most powerful magicians in the DC universe take it upon themselves to influence that decision.
Fabulous painted artwork, and a detailed rundown of the magical characters in the DC universe. Quite a lot of fun, and a great story to boot.
The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish
Neil Gaiman, Dave McKean
This children's story incorporates Dave McKean's creepy photocollage style and a breezy narrative style from Gaiman to tell a pretty inconsequential story. The narrator has swapped his father for something a bit more interactive. Not such a good idea, in Mom's opinion, and he goes to trade him back, but of course, that's not the end of it...
The writing captures the appropriate kid-like tone, and the artwork is lavish without being nearly as scary as much of McKean's work. Not their greatest collaboration -- it really does work mostly on the level of a kids book, but certainly a worthwhile book if you are a Gaiman or McKean completist, or if you have kids.
Death : The High Cost of Living
Neil Gaiman, et al.
The first Sandman spinoff featuring Death, the perky Endless. Seems that every hundred years, she walks the earth as a mortal, as a reminder of the value of life. Naturally, 'Didi' runs into Sexton, who's convinced life isn't much worth living. And, she also finds herself in the clutches of a mysterious stranger who has his own ideas. Along the way she runs into Mad Hettie, Hazel and Foxglove, and others.
Great characterizations -- Didi is always dead-on, pardon the pun, and Sexton is just a confused teenager. Recommended.
Death: The Time of Your Life
Neil Gaiman
Sandman characters Hazel and Foxglove return in this graphic novel featuring Death. Set some time after their appearances in A Game of You and Death: The High Cost of Living, this story finds Foxglove a successful musician, and Hazel and Alvie, her son, tucked away in a fabulous California mansion. Foxglove, however, is living a bit of a lie -- as far as the media is concerned, she is straight.
...But that's not the worst of her problems. The big problem is that Hazel's not happy, and not only that, she's being asked to pay off a debt that Foxglove doesn't even know about. Will she do the right thing, or will her career come first? Does love know no boundaries?
Not nearly as cool as the first Death book, but still a great story, and great artwork from Chris Bachalo.
Paperback avail 1 Dec. (20% off)
Good Omens
Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett
Not yet reviewed (but Amazon sure loves it, click through...)
Order
the Mass Market Paperback
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the Trade Paperback
Neverwhere
Neil Gaiman
Not yet reviewed.
Sandman : Preludes and Nocturnes
Neil Gaiman
Not yet reviewed.
The Sandman: The Doll's House
Neil Gaiman, et. al.
Not yet reviewed.
Sandman : Season of Mists
Neil Gaiman, et. al.
Not yet reviewed.
Sandman : A Game of You
Neil Gaiman
Not yet reviewed.
Sandman : Brief Lives
Neil Gaiman
Not yet reviewed.
Sandman : Fables and Reflections
Neil Gaiman, et. al.
Not yet reviewed.
Sandman: Dream Country
Neil Gaiman, et. al.
Not yet reviewed.
The Sandman : Worlds' End
Neil Gaiman, et. al.
Not yet reviewed.
The Sandman : The Kindly Ones
Neil Gaiman, et. al.
Not yet reviewed.
The Sandman : The Wake
Neil Gaiman, et al / Paperback / Published 1997
Not yet reviewed.
The Sandman Book of Dreams
Neil Gaiman (Editor), Edward E. Kramer (Editor)
Not yet reviewed.
The Tragical Comedy or Comical Tragedy of Mr. Punch : A Romance
Neil Gaiman , Dave McKean
Not yet reviewed.